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PSXE Game Of The Year Nominations

Well, it's that time of the year, and we're just about ready to unveil all the big winners of 2008. But before we do, we're giving you a look at all the nominees, thereby giving you a chance to debate 'til you're blue in the face.

There were plenty of fantastic titles in 2008, and as we look back, we start to realize just how far the industry has come. In fact, we've come a long way since the start of this new generation; few will argue that we've all had memorable experiences this year. We can't drop any hints regarding all the winners, but we'll be interested to hear what you think...will we spread the wealth? Will one or two games dominate? Will there be surprises? Who knows? What we do know is that we'll announce the winners just after New Year's, so stay tuned for the big feature. For those of you who give us a lot of respect and put a lot of emphasis on our reviews, you should probably agree with a lot of our decisions. But we won't satisfy everyone...and that's half the fun. ;)

yes good list i agree sept why is fallout 3 not atleast an honorable mention for GOY... i vote mgs4 but it should be on there! and even though i hated the fact call of duty:wow, was WWII based and it took some playing to get used to after cod: 4 was amazing, it is a solid multi player game online... just thoughts but the list is good! im excited to see who gets each category win!

Hey there, Shadow. I understand your disdain for the bandwagon thing, but after playing through Metal Gear Collections (the first two anyhow last week), and so far having played through the first 4 acts of MGS4 (in one sitting), I must say that MGS4 is every good as it has been praised. Not being crazy about the gameplay of the metal gears (after loving the action of DMC1, I was totally pissed I couldn't even jump when playing my first MG action-adventure), I procrastinated, and left it after GTA4, R2, Gears2, Deadspace, and even POP. However, after playing some of MGS4, I have yet to see game that can match it in terms of graphics, story, production values, and yes, even playablility. Yeah, ok, so you can't sit around and shoot pool in it, or have 60 player online fragfests, dismember baddies, etc, but these are just sprinkle elements in their respective games. In addition of having it's own (insane) fair share of sprinkles, what the game lacks in bowling matches, and online modes, it more than makes up for in every other (important) department. Yes, GTA4 is amazing, especially for someone like myself who never played the previous GTA's, but did it really push the envelope this generation like MGS4 did? Tough call. What I can say on my own behalf is that the greatest games reduce to nothing more than some reiterated game mechanics, like shooting galleries, dressed with story. GTA4 not only had plenty of shooting gallery, but competent platforming and even racing. And it's sheer scale and depth made me smile plenty. But MGS4 had me exclaim, "WOW", at least as much. For what MGS4 lacked somewhat in scale, it made up in pace, and continued urgency and a story, which, granted, tended to go off the deep end, but never let up. GTA4 was a continued joy, over time. I played it, and left it for a month or two before completing it. But MGS4 would not let me put down the controller. I have yet to finish MGS4, but what I can say so far, is that I can already tell it won't be a clear cut decision. So what I'm saying is that I wish all the intelligent folk around here would talk more about their individual experience, and less about what the fanboys are up to.

Oh don't misunderstand me I don't have any ill will towards MGS4. I don't know if you've read my other posts talking about GotY but basically the way I see it is that:

Big companies that cater to very broad audiences have no business giving MGS4 GotY because such a low number of their readers/viewers could get into it. The story is very confusing (on purpose I know, but still) and it's only available on one system (the one with the lowest install base at that, but now I'm off topic). For THIS site, THIS audience; MGS4 makes perfect sense as GotY.

The reason I chose GTA4 is simply because I love it. The online is horrible the mini games are barely entertaining but the characters are a f***ing riot. Brucie is the best supporting character games have seen in a long time.

Oh yeah: and PARAGRAPHS my friend. that massive block of text is intimidating.Last edited by SHADOW on 12/31/2008 9:12:11 PM

I hear you, Shadow. I'm usually quite particular about paragraphs and punctuation. I guess was too involved in a rant to notice my neglect.

Regarding MGS4 getting GOTY or not, I understand your concern about it's accessiblity at least as far as the story element is concerned. But, I'm not a Metal Gear fan, and I forced myself to play the first two before playing the fourth...here's how it goes, without giving away spoilers...(skip if you don't care)

Snake is a clone made as a super soldier, by government secret agency...Patriots. He is up against defectors, who are also clones like him...Liquid Snake and Ocelot, who wish to start their own society, "Outer-Heaven".

He is equipped with nanomachines to enable in battle, covert communication, and was also infused with Foxdie, engineered virus as a fail-safe.

MGS2: After Shadow Moses, Snake's whereabouts are unknown. Thought to be dead, or suspected for another event... a takeover of a oil rig, that was actually a masquerade or cover for another Metal Gear...Arsenal Gear. Arsenal Gear is a system designed to control all information, and is defended with Metal Gears. Ocelot returns and wishes to gain control of Arsenal Gear from the Patriots. Two years later, Raiden is sent in by Foxhound to stop Ocelot. Snake and his partner Octacon give him support.

MGS3: Takes place two or three decades before. Tells the story of the original Snake clone, or Daddy, BigBoss. I didn't play it, yet.

That's all you really need to understand MGS4. I played mgs1 and mgs2 a week before, and that was enough to understand mgs4, as well as ample enough to allow nostalgia.

Regarding GOTY qualification, I really think critics should evaluate independent of consumers (granted without being a-holes, or careless of their actual gaming needs). How else will the industry be pushed towards excellence?

I didn't play the original MGS (nor do I have any intention of doing so) but I did read through that whole damn Database thing. So I get it. But I don't think the 50 year old dudes and house wives who read Time Magazine or the New York Times can really wrap their heads around all that, let alone the whole sneak around, hide in cardboard boxes thing. I think that writers to GotY or any awards for fans and readers not for themselves. Therefore there opinions and viewpoints should match that of their audience.

I guess what I'm saying is that, no a writer shouldn't give an award out based on the fact that his audience likes it, but that writer probably should be on the same page as his audience anyway. Right? So as an outsider looking in on the audience that reads Time Magazine or The New York Times, or even Gamespot and IGN to a degree; it just seems preposterous to me to EXPECT them to award their honor on MGS4.

Only two things i'd change on that list. COD:WAW in best MP, and Fallout 3 at least nominated for GOTY. MGS4 should win but Fallout 3 was at least better then Dead Space IMO. Not saying Dead Space was bad, just that Fallout 3 was better.

i realy liked the naruto game fight style defenetly beats sc , n 4 goty i realy got rush of adrenalin when cutting throats it was so much fun i screamed of the joy of seeing someone struggle 4 there lifes even if it was just vidgames , so it would b mgs4 , by the way i m completely normal person

LBP is cartoony. It does NOT look better than Resistance 2. Don't say I'm wrong because I OWN both. Ben, you missed DMC4 under GoTY.

Top 5 games of '08 (in my oppinion(I didn't like the Demo of MGS4))1. Resistance 22. Devil May Cry 43. Battlefield: Bad Company4. Motorstorm: Pacific Rift5. Rock Band 2I'm sorry if you don't agree, this is out of the games that I own.

im never gonna read your comments ever again. lbp kills resistance 2. Resistance 2 was a solid fps end off lbp is a masterpiece.
So what if you own both lolLast edited by FLYING_APE on 12/31/2008 8:22:18 AM

Whatever... R2 looks better because it's designed to look realistic. LBP looks like any other cartoony game because it's designed to look like that.Last edited by somethingrandom on 1/2/2009 1:07:37 AM

For the record, we did not include any music games in "Best Sound" because those games have their own genre that's all ABOUT sound. Furthermore, we're counting soundtrack, sound effects, and voice acting in that Sound category; two of which aren't even part of games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

Well I feel their should be three changes to this list. The first change is The Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection should not be on this list because these are old games that came out prior years past. They were great games but I feel they don't qualify because they weren't new releases this year. And I feel Arcana Heart should added to the "Best Fighting Game" and the "Best PS2 Game" list.

Burnout trumps Motorstorm for online features.CoD:WaW is almost as cood as CoD4 and that won everything last year.And Socom was great after you got past all the bugs in the first month. And the bugs in MGO were just as bad in my opinion.

The whole category seems like it is designed for Resistance 2 to win. RockBand and Guitar Hero are music games. All music games are designed to be enjoyed in a group/party setting it just seems like it's dumb to list them here as well as in the music category.

Trust me, Arnold and I really had to work to trim down the Multiplayer nominations. All those games you listed were considered, but for our own reasons, we chose the titles you see. You can make legitimate arguments for all of them, though.

I say u have missed alot of great games on that list. shudda made it a bit longer. I thinkCOD4 or Motorstorm 1 and other older games shud be on the list. And you cuoldda put some games coming out really soon like ummm? damn oh well. I agree with most.Burnout - best online.LilHugePlanet - Most innovative.GRID cmon great game fun got mix of different motorsport.well its already official nd other than that n what others said great list. BTW is R2 better than COD5or is COD5 overrated coz of COD4s success.

And this is all awards for games that have released in 2008. Not 2007 and not 2009. I'm sure at some point when PS3 is becoming a fading memory they will choose their greatest PS3 games ever, but not yet.